Matthew 10:11-42

¹¹ “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. ¹² And when you go into a household, greet it. ¹³ If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! ¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. ²¹ “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! ²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. ³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. ⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Commentary

Vs. 11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.”

The Lord Jesus now tells them that when they enter or city or town, that they are to “inquire who in it is worthy,” that is they are only to stay with those who would receive them as disciples of Christ, as well they are to stay with whatever household receives them as such until they go out from that place. For they are not to be bouncing around from place to place seeking to get this or that from different households, for that is what the false brethren do.

Vs. 12-13 ¹² And when you go into a household, greet it. ¹³ If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Now upon entering a household the Lord Jesus commands that we greet it, that we be hospitable to everyone there, having no preconceived notions, prejudices, biases or anything else other than an open heart to all there. (vs. 12). Therefore, if a household is worthy, that is it is also open and receptive to you and your Words and deeds which you do and speak in Christ’s Name, then the Lord Jesus say’s let your peace come upon it. “But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” For there is no peace from God for any household or individual who will not receive the Lord Jesus Christ’s servants who come in His Name.

Vs. 14-15 ¹⁴ And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Now the Lord’s Words here not only apply to the twelve whom He sent out to Israel, but now to everyone of us who believe in Him, and thus are now sent out by Him to be His witnesses’, and to bring His Words to one and to all (Acts 1:8). The seriousness then of not receiving Christ’s Words and Christ’s servants should not be lost on anyone. Because to reject Christ’s servants who come with His Gospel and His Words in His Name is too reject Christ Himself! Now the shaking off of the very dust from one’s feet from that house or that city which will not receive us and Christ’s Words indicates the utter contempt that we are to hold such in. (For a cultural understanding of this, see Word Studies in the New Testament Matthew 10:14). The Lord Jesus concludes His warning by saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” If God then so treated Sodom and Gomorrah by destroying it with brimstone and fire for their unrepentance how much worse shall it be for any household or city who will not receive and believe the Lord Jesus Christ!

Vs. 16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

 Truly in this godless world each and every one of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who follow His righteousness are like sheep in the midst of wolves (consider Rev 12:17). Therefore, the Lord Jesus says we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Wise because there will be those who will watch and observe us (but not as a move of God in their hearts), but as move of evil within themselves, who will then seek to hinder, harm, or even destroy us by every and all means. And so, we must not be blind or ignorant of such individuals, or occurrences, but we must be discerning in our dealings and encounters with all people, for persecution will not only come from outside, but also within, as the Lord will later make clear. Now in walking in this world and dealing with those of it we are not to live by the “law” of the tooth and claw, as the world does. Rather we are to be harmless as doves. Neither harming or destroying anyone or anything. Living blameless then in the sight of God then is our goal. 

Vs. 17-18 “But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” 

Again, the Lord Jesus warns that the twelve (and us all) are to beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. Now the immediate context is that is that of the apostles being delivered up by their Jewish countrymen to councils (i.e. Sanhedrin council, or other local tribunals) and or being beating by them in their synagogues; though again this warning is not just to them but to us all; as persecution from men using legal authority to do so is part and parcel of following Christ. Therefore, the Lord Jesus warns them and us all that, “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” ^Vs.18 The Gospel then is never hindered by man’s plots and schemes too miss-use legal authority to persecute Christ’s disciples, rather it is often through their persecution of us that the Gospel is spread to those who otherwise might have never heard it.

Vs. 19-20 ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 

Now the Lord Jesus says that we are not to prepare before hand what we will speak. For as He say’s “For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Thus, when these things occur to us, God our Father by His Spirit will give us the wisdom and the words that they will not be able to refute. 

Vs. 21-22 ²¹ “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

The Lord Jesus Christ now makes it clear that belonging to Him will make even those of one’s own household want to put us to death. For Jesus’ say’s brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child, (even his only child), and children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. Therefore, believing in and belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ assures us that we will not only be hated by all for Christ’s Name sake; that is all who won’t believe and receive the love of the truth; that is the Lord Jesus Christ and His Words and Gospel for themselves (2 Thess. 2:9-12). And so, it will be those who are closest to us, who don’t believe, who will betray us to death! Which is just what the Lord Jesus Himself also had to pass through as He was first betrayed by His own people to be crucified to death. Family loyalties and ties for us then run only as deep as our family members believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the Lord concludes His statement here by saying that “He who endures to end shall be saved,” that is the all who truly believe in Him, though some of us we may stumble to refine us (see Daniel 11:35) we will by the grace of God continue on with the Lord Jesus Christ until the end. Salvation then for us who believe is assured.

Vs. 23 “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

The persecution of the disciples and early reveals just how frequent this was and continues to be, for the world (and those of it) will always be hostile towards us. Therefore, the Lord Jesus says when they persecute you in this city (in context Jerusalem) flee to another, for believers are not obligated to stay where we are persecuted and unwelcomed. Something that all types of ministries and outreaches should take note of. And so, the Lord speaking to the twelve apostles directly (but also us indirectly) now says to them that they will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Which is a reference to the time just before the Second Coming of Christ, when the Jews will return to the Lord and they will suffer grave persecution for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vs. 24-25 ²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!”

Here the Lord Jesus is preparing all His disciples for the persecution that is to come to us all. Therefore, the Lord Jesus is telling us all not only to seek to be like Him when being persecuted, but also not to think that we will be treated any differently than the world treated Him. And so, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!” Now calling someone “Beelzebub” (i.e. “lord of flies”; a reference to Satan) is what the Jews considered to be the most derogatory indictment they could make against someone; therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ says if they called Him, the Lord of all Love, Life, and Glory, “Beelzebub” how much more Jesus says will the call us who believe in Him; who are the members of His household; the same! The implication then is that because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and belong to His household that those who belong to this world and the “god” of it, will then say all kinds of derogatory things about us, making us out to be what they really are! 

Vs.26 “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ in anticipating the disciples’ potential hesitancy to be boldly open about their faith and trust in Him, declaring His Gospel and Words to all peoples in all nations because of the potential alienation and hostility it will bring to us all. Now says not to fear them, not to fear the slander and abuse that they themselves will not only do, but also stir up others (by a whole host of means and schemes) to bring against us. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ says to us not to fear them, “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Our vindication then will come when God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son our Lord and Savior in His perfect timing and His perfect way brings to light and exposes all the secret plots and schemes that they worked against us. Therefore, don’t fear them and their plots and schemes, “for the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all those who wait for Him” ^{Isaiah 30:18}. (also consider Prov. 2:8)

 Vs. 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

Early on the Lord Jesus Christ was only revealing the Word of the Lord and its truths to His chosen twelve men, for He was first preparing them (and the world) for their mission ahead (consider Mark 4:34), and so often He would tell them not to reveal His Person to anyone (Luke 9:18-22). But now the Lord Jesus Christ looking beyond His own Crucifixion death and when the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them, and us, now tells them (and us all) that, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” Therefore, whatever Spiritual truths the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word and by His Spirit inside us reveals to us we are to declare them openly to one and to all! Nothing then that pertains to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Christian Gospel Message we are to hold back from anyone (consider Acts 20:25-35, vs. 27).

Vs. 28-31 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Given that the Lord Jesus has already warned us of coming persecutions He now says that we are not to fear those who can only kill the body, rather we are to fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (vs. 28). In fact, in reading Hebrews 11 (specifically vs. 30-40) we see that such is the honor and privilege of the saints down through the ages, to not only work mighty works for God’s cause, but also to suffer and die for Him, for righteousness sake. Nonetheless the Lord Jesus Christ is not saying here that all who believe in Him will suffer martyrdom, rather His point here is that there is nothing that anyone, or any principality or power can do to us apart from His all-seeing eyes and will always being upon us. Fear of man then is not to govern our persons and lives, but the fear of the Lord.

Vs. 32-33 ³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ then is unabashed with His warning here then that those who fear man and refuse to confess Him before them, He to will also deny before His Father in heaven. For the cowardly and unbelieving will have no place in His Kingdom, (see Rev. 21:8).

Vs. 34-37 ³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

The Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel then will be a declaration of “war” to those of this world, who live by and justify its Godless values and ideas. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ say’s, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” ^{vs. 34} For the Lord Jesus Christ came to make with God through the blood of His Cross to one and all who repent and believe in Him; that is the peace Christ brings and promises to each and every believing individual. But as for bringing peace on earth to this evil and sinful world that is totally hostile and antagonistic towards God and is only ever increasing in its transgressors and transgressions until they all reach their fullness before God brings in His judgment on them all, no the Lord Jesus Christ did not come to bring peace to this unrepentant and unbelieving world, rather a sword which He Himself will execute on the last Day (Revelation 19). Therefore, having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be the demarcation line, for all families and the individuals within them will be set-against each other for the cause of Christ, either for Him or against Him because there is no neutrality in this war.

Vs. 37-39 ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

The Lord Jesus Christ then makes it clear that loving Him means that one cannot love more those of one’s own family (Vs. 37). Whether this is one’s own father or mother, son or daughter. Loving the Lord Jesus Christ then means that all our relationships no matter how close and intimate are only to be as strong as is their willingness to believe and obey Him. Therefore, to love anyone more than the Lord Jesus is only to place Him behind them, and the Lord Jesus Christ will take nothing but first in our heart’s and lives. Therefore, Jesus also says to us all: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” ^{Vs. 38-39} Therefore it’s not just family bonds and ties that one will have to put second to the Lord Jesus Christ, it’s owns own life. That is all of our dreams, desires, and aspirations must be forsaken for Jesus’ sake when these come into conflict with the Lord Jesus Christ’s Will for us. For taking up the Cross of Christ and following after Him means living a life of self-denial, because as the Lord Jesus both warns and promises, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Forsaking then what cannot be kept for that which cannot be lost is then the only right course of life that ends in true and abundant life.

Vs. 40-42 ⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” ^{Vs. 40}

The Lord Jesus now makes it clear that we who believe in Him are so intimately connected with Him, that He Himself identifies anyone’s reception of us in His Name as if they were receiving Himself! And so, in receiving the Lord Jesus Christ through us the Lord says they are also receiving Him who sent Him, that is they are receiving God the Father.

 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” ^{Vs. 41}

The Lord Jesus says that even receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet means that one shall receive a prophet’s reward. Similarly receiving a righteous man in the name of a righteous man means that one will receive a righteous mans reward, for God is neither unjust nor unmindful of anyone’s desire to know Him through those He brings to them.

“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” ^{Vs. 42}

 To give even one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple is so highly regarded by the Lord Jesus that anyone who seeks to offer even the smallest comfort and relief to a disciple of Christ shall by no means their reward. The only question then is will you also become a disciple of Christ?

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.